Vikas Dubey, wanted for allegedly shooting dead eight policemen in Kanpur’s Bikru village last week, was arrested in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, the State’s Home Minister Narottam Mishra said on Thursday.

Vikas, on the run since the intervening night of July 2 and 3, was arrested near a temple in Ujjain. The exact details are still awaited as to whether the gangster surrendered or was arrested first after a guard at the Mahakal temple reportedly recognised him and informed the nearest police outpost.

“Our police doesn’t leave anyone. They have arrested Vikas [Dubey] too and he is in our custody,” Mr. Mishra told reporters, describing if as a huge success for Madhya Pradesh.

Two of Vikas’ associates Bittu and Suresh had also been arrested, he said. U.P. police had been informed and were on their way, said Mr. Mishra.

A temple official said Vikas arrived at 7 a.m. and after darshan, Vikas was questioned by temple staff on suspicion. The staff and security guards then called police from a nearby outpost, following which Vikas was questioned again, said Gopal Singh Kushwah, a temple official. Vikas then even tried to run but was held and questioned further, said Mr. Kushwah talking to reporters. The gangster was then taken to the outpost.

There has been no confirmation or response yet from Uttar Pradesh police which had declared a bounty of ₹5 lakh on Vikas following the ambush in Bikru.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on the phone regarding the arrest. The police will hand over Vikas to the Uttar Pradesh police, said an official at the Madhya Pradesh CMO.

Mr. Chouhan said “Those who think their sins will be washed away by taking shelter under Mahakal [temple], they’ve not known Mahakal in the first place. Our government is not going to spare any criminal,” and congratulated the State police.

Akhilesh seeks clarification

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has asked the government to clarify if it was a surrender or arrest.

Mr. Yadav also demanded that Vikas’ call detail record be made public so that the “real collusion” could be revealed.